Your HVAC unit needs a little TLC to work at peak performance. One of the most important things you can do for your system is to schedule preventive maintenance in the spring and fall, ahead of seasons where you’ll depend on your central air system for round-the-clock comfort.
Between maintenance visits, however, you need to be diligent about changing or cleaning the filter. Here’s how:
Changing leaves, scented candles, sweaters, and flannels? Fall has arrived! To celebrate what is undoubtedly the coziest season of the year, our team decided to share some of our favorite ways to create a comfortable atmosphere in your home.
Keep reading to learn our top four ways to make your home feel cozy this fall:
Photo by Ethan Robertson on Unsplash
While the summer months might bring a break for most of us, it's the hardest-working time of year for your HVAC equipment's cooling components. To help keep your AC running all summer, we've compiled some easy tasks that every homeowner can do to prepare their air conditioner or HVAC system for summer. Ready to save money and feel more comfortable? Keep reading to learn how to get your AC ready for summer.
The last thing you want is your air conditioner to break down in the middle of a heat wave. If your air conditioner has been dormant for most of the year, you shouldn't expect it to work at total capacity with the flick of a switch.
Understanding how the average central air conditioning system works will help you make an HVAC summer maintenance plan.
The cooling process starts inside the home with the evaporator. This part of the system absorbs heat, converts it to gas, and sends it to the compressor, located in its outdoor unit. The compressor and the condenser work together to cast away heat so the cooling properties can work effectively.
Shutting off your home air conditioner and sleeping with the windows open seems like a great way to save energy. After all, doesn't it make sense to give your HVAC a break when the sun goes down and temperatures drop? Unfortunately, that's not always the case. Sleeping with the windows open is just one of many HVAC mistakes that can unknowingly driving up your monthly utility bill. Keep reading to find out lesser-known mistakes that are costing you money.
Residents of the Pacific Northwest know the joy of cracking a window on summer nights. While people should enjoy a night of fresh air from time to time, it's essential to be aware of potentially higher energy costs.
When you leave your windows open all night, you essentially undo all the hard work air conditioning or heat pump system has done to cool your home. During the day, the air conditioning system works to remove heat and humidity from the indoor air. If the outside air is even one degree warmer than your home's internal temperature, the system will have to work harder to restore your desired temperature.
Additionally, outside air usually contains more humidity than the inside air, leaving your rooms feeling stuffy and uncomfortable. Humidity makes temperatures feel warmer than they actually are. If you let your home get too damp, you might feel inclined to compensate by setting your thermostat to an even lower temperature, increasing HVAC system workload, thus making it a major HVAC mistake.
Some research has revealed the optimal conditions for sleeping with open windows. If the outside temperature is about 70 degrees and humidity levels are low, you can crack a window overnight. However, try to shut them as early as possible in the morning to keep outside moisture and sunlight from increasing your internal temperatures.
Air purifiers are becoming increasingly popular as people strive to create a healthier and cleaner home environment. As the season of growth begins, ensuring optimal indoor air quality for your well-being is crucial, which includes replacing your air filters. Keep reading to learn about the advantages of having an air purifier in your home during spring season and beyond, and learn how these systems work to remove airborne pollutants and allergens for your benefit.
Spring is the ideal time to invest in a home air purifier. An air purifier can provide a range of health benefits and improve the quality of your home's air, regardless of your home’s age. Even newly-constructed homes could use an air purifier or air filteration system to help with any lingering smells and remnant dust and debris from the building process. Here are some of the key advantages that you’ll enjoy when you install an air purifier in your home.
The primary purpose of any air purifier is to remove airborne contaminants from your living space. Particulates like dust, pollen, smoke specks, pet dander, and other allergens that can cause breathing difficulties or aggravate asthma could be removed from the atmosphere by an air purifier. An air purifier will help create a healthier environment for everyone who lives in your home by eliminating pesky particles before they can be pushed into your home through the ventilation system.
Many types of odors can linger around the house long after their source has been removed or eliminated, including pet odors and cooking smells. An effective way to reduce these unpleasant aromas is with an activated carbon air filter found in many modern air purifiers. These help trap odor-causing molecules before they can spread throughout your home’s interior spaces.
In addition to improved respiratory health, air purifiers can prevent the spread of airborne illnesses. They can’t fully stop them, but purifiers may capture the bacteria and viruses to lessen the chance of everyone in your household getting sick.
Who doesn't love home devices that make life comfortable, convenient, and conscientious? Smart thermostats provide all three by maintaining the ideal temperature for your home, offering access from anywhere, and reducing your carbon footprint. As you begin your search for the perfect smart thermostat, it’s important to arm yourself with the right information. There are a few lesser-known things you should keep in mind before upgrading, so read on to learn more.
Choose Your Upgrade Timing Wisely
Everyone loves saving energy, and it makes sense to swap to an energy-saving thermostat sooner rather than later to save the most energy. While it's tempting to make the switch to a more energy-efficient thermostat right before you'll most need it, like in the thick of summer or dead of winter or before you host a family gathering, that's not always the best time. If things go wrong during a DIY installation, you might be stuck without a functioning HVAC system until you can get it fixed. It might be better to wait for milder weather. If you've got any concerns about the installation, consider calling in a professional from Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning.
Check For Compatibility Before Buying a Smart Thermostat
When shopping for a new thermostat, it's important to check for compatibility with your existing HVAC system. Most smart thermostats require "low voltage" 24-volt HVAC systems, often called "central heat" or "central air." You likely have this type of system if:
With spring fast approaching, it's time to consider optimizing your home for the upcoming warm weather. One sure way to make indoor living more comfortable year-round is to invest in air conditioning. With increasing temperatures, there are several reasons why having an air conditioner installed is beneficial, from improved health and comfort levels inside your home to better energy efficiency ratings when using modern systems. Learn more about AC installation and discover three reasons for installing your air conditioning this spring.
Adding an air conditioner to your home comes with several benefits—and not just during the warmer months. If you're wondering how much AC your home really needs, consider the following questions:
A Bob's Heating sales representative can help you find answers to these questions when you're looking to decide on the best air conditioning system for your home.
Once you commit to adding an air conditioner or heat pump to your home, consider the following reasons to have the installation completed before summer arrives.
Planning to install an air conditioner in your home should be done well before the summer heat arrives. Many of the best AC contractors are booked during summer when demand is highest, so scheduling an installation in spring provides you with plenty of extra time and better access to inventory options.
As the winter season approaches faster than many of us had hoped for, it becomes more critical to prepare your home and keep your mind at ease when the weather starts to turn. Many may not realize how much winter can impact your home, so taking the proper precautions will help to get you and your home ready for the winter season. It is very important to take care of your home's exterior and interior when preparing for the chilly weather. Who wants to worry about having to take on any home projects when it’s cold out? Our guess is, no one!
This article will walk you through what you should have in your home for winter and what to mark off of your checklist before the first snowfall.
After returning home from a long day at work on a cold winter afternoon, the last thing you want is to walk into a frigid house. If you’re wondering how you would be able to avoid that, we have the answer for you – smart thermostats! A smart thermostat can be controlled from your smartphone, so you’re able to turn your heat on and off with the tap of a finger. This makes it quick and easy to manage your home’s temperature while the system itself helps to save you money and energy.
If you don’t already have a smart thermostat and are considering one, making the choice sooner rather than later will add to a comfortable home and reduced utility bills. Installing this type of thermostat is something that should be done before winter hits in case any incidents occur, such as faulty wires or power outages. If you’re unfamiliar with thermostats and their installation, Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning can help you install a smart thermostat for your home.
Before winter hits, creating a checklist of what needs to be done will also help you to get your home ready. One of the items on the checklist should be to check your home’s insulation during the summer or fall to allow you to find and resolve any problems that arise. Due to the temperature drop outside as winter progresses, ensuring your home is properly insulated will help keep your home warm. Your windows, siding, attic, and basement should all be insulated to avoid any cold air from entering your home.
Woodinville, WA — Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning has been named to the winning list of Nextdoor’s 6th annual Neighborhood Favorites, an awards program recognizing local businesses committed to helping their neighborhoods thrive. Winners of the 2022 Neighborhood Favorites were determined based on the number of neighbor recommendations a local business receives on Nextdoor across various categories.
“On Nextdoor, small businesses are a trusted and core member of the community. These local businesses go above and beyond to make their neighborhoods a kind, welcoming place. It is a true honor, and good for business, to be voted a Neighborhood Favorite by your most loyal customers — neighbors.” said Nextdoor CEO Sarah Friar.
With more than 55 million business recommendations from neighbors, Nextdoor connects neighbors with each other and everything nearby.
“We’re very honored to have been recommended by so many wonderful neighbors in our local community. Bob’s has been serving homeowners throughout Western Washington since 1957, so we are proud to see our values recognized and appreciated by local community members,” wrote Gabby Roppo, the marketing coordinator at Bob’s Heating.
The complete list of winning businesses in each city is available at nextdoor.com/favorites. Join the neighborhood network by downloading the Nextdoor app or visiting nextdoor.com.
Spring welcomes the birth of new beginnings everywhere. It is the perfect season to turn over a new leaf, so to speak. It also happens to be the best time to tackle HVAC spring cleaning. Get your home prepped and ready for the warm seasons ahead by following these three easy steps!
After a long, dark winter, many look forward to the warmer weather that spring promises. Unfortunately, the arrival of spring also means the arrival of seasonal allergies. Millions of Americans suffer from allergy symptoms caused by seasonal factors. The most common environmental factors that affect spring allergies include:
If you or a loved one suffer from seasonal allergies, poor indoor air quality can aggravate symptoms. So how can you release the hold seasonal allergies have on your life?
When you’re cold, it can be easy to turn to quick fixes. Heat therapy is one of the oldest forms of pain relief, and the invention of heating pads makes it easy to use heat anywhere you go. While modern heating pads feature built-in safety measures, it may surprise you to learn that sleeping on a heating pad can be dangerous.
Winter may not officially arrive until December 21st, but the chill in the air is here to stay. Keep reading to learn our top tips to stay warm without breaking the bank this season!
In the hottest parts of the summer, an inefficient HVAC system can run for much of the day. Older units tend to be less efficient than newer ones, but there are ways you can improve the performance of your air conditioning system.
If you have an older furnace, strange banging, clanking, and whistling sounds are no strangers to your home. However, if your furnace is relatively new, your unit should be almost completely silent while it operates. Either way, it is not a good sign when your heating unit produces strange sounds. If you hear the following noises, you should have your furnace inspected by a professional HVAC technician.
Fall has arrived! As we admire colorful foliage, dust off our cozy sweaters, and sip our pumpkin spice lattes, we reflect and plan for autumn. Is your home prepared for pesky power outages due to inevitable fall and winter storms? We may not be able to prevent a power outage from occurring, but we can ensure your home’s power can be restored! Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning carries Honeywell Home Backup Generators that will automatically restore power to your home within seconds! Did we mention they’re on sale until 10/31/18? Read on to learn why you should invest in this life (and power) saver before our Pre-Season Generator Sale ends!
Now that outside temperatures are cooling down, it is time to flip on the furnace! Before groaning over higher bills, understand the culprits. They are not as common as you think, and some nearly go undetected! Read on to learn five common culprits of high energy bills during the fall and winter months.
Bob’s Heating & Air Conditioning wants to ensure your family is safe in the case the power goes out in your neighborhood due to inclement weather. We have put together some safety and preparedness tips to help get you through till the lights come back on!
Let us tell you, there is more to the job than being certified. While certification is mandatory at Bob’s Heating, an excellent HVAC technician typically has all of the following qualities and characteristics that we look for when bringing on someone new.
A home should be a safe haven where one can rely on finding peace, comfort, and relaxation. It’s where we get our best sleep and feel our safest. Owning an air conditioner can help provide your family with the comfort and security one should expect each time they return home. The benefits of air conditioner ownership are near endless and help your safe haven remain comfortable year-round.
